Bachelor of Arts Honours in IsiNdebele

Purpose

This qualification is designed to provide the opportunity for further intensive study in African Languages and Literature and training in concepts and research methods designed to equip the learner with the skills necessary either for employment in teaching; electronic and paper media publishing; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Government Service; Translation; Diplomatic Service; Tourism; Cultural Entrepreneurship; Public Relations or for further study at Master's and Doctoral level in IsiNdebele.

Rationale

The qualification is intended to be a comparative study of Languages, Literature and Culture; training in concepts and research methods designed to equip the learner with the skills necessary either for employment in the fields mentioned above or for further study at Master's and Doctoral level in IsiNdebele.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The admission of learners via prior leaning is according to the institutions official Policy on Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as contained in the institution calendar which falls in line with South African Qualification Authority RPL requirement for prior learning, particularly those learners who have working experience in the Language of isiNdebele and are equipped to successfully complete the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Arts in IsiNdebele, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7.

This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 30 Credits

• Research Project, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 8, 90 Credits

• IsiNdebele Semantics, 20 Credits.
• Dramatic Forms in IsiNdebele, 20 Credits.
• Research Methodology in Oral and Written Literature, 20 Credits.
• Sentence Structure in IsiNdebele, 20 Credits.
• Historical Linguistics, 20 Credits.
• Modern Prose, 20 Credits.
• Speech Sound in Function in IsiNdebele, 20 Credits.
• Figurative Language and Interpretation in Poetry, 20 Credits.
• Sociolinguistics, 20 Credits.
• Word Structure in IsiNdebele, 20 Credits.
• Speech Sound in IsiNdebele, 20 Credits.
• Folklore, 20 Credits.

1. Design and conduct research in this area of specialisation.
2. Find information of professional relevance efficiently and independently.
3. Produce academic papers that reflect an ability to interrogate the professional literature and engage in critical debate.
4. Design and conduct research utilising the methods of the discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Design a research project to answer literary/linguistic questions.
• Formulate a sophisticated linguistic/literary argument drawing on appropriate theory and research.
• Produce critiques of literary/linguistic theory and research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Complete a series of exercises which serve to integrate skills learned during the Honours year and to prepare for the Master's Dissertation.
• Incorporate relevant technical data into descriptive and argumentative writing.
• Analyse new and abstract data situation deploying a wide range of concepts appropriate to the field of study and transformation of the abstract data and concepts towards achieving a given purpose.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Organise ideas and facts logically and coherently.
• Cite references accurately and consistently.
• Make use of computer-based bibliographical packages to conduct advanced analyses.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Utilise advanced methods to address research questions.
• Evaluate the quality of linguistic/literacy research.
• Review evidence supporting conclusion e.g. reliability, validity and significance and investigating contradicting information in research.

Integrated Assessment

As the Summative Assessment of the qualification, the learner produces a research paper which demonstrates the capacity for independent thought and research, knowledge of the theoretical foundations of the subject and of scholarly literature. The following components are integral parts of the production of the research paper: 1) A focused literature review based on the use of a variety of text and other media which informs a potential research question. 2) The formulation of a research question and the development of research proposal based on the literature review. The proposal must specify a research design and the method/s to be applied to answer the research question. 3) The demonstration of a professional working relationship by responding to the comments of the project supervisor. 4) The carrying out of the research proposed and its presentation in a manner which accords with the publication conventions of the discipline. 5) To develop an ability to write a motivated evaluation of a literary text.